Who is the course designed for

My Advanced Landscape Photography Course has been designed for photographers who are solely looking for tuition on the creative and compositional aspects of their photography. The tuition embraces a wide variety of different styles and approaches to working creatively in the landscape, from traditional through to abstract. This course will also appeal to non-landscape photographers who want to try a new creative challenge.

What level of experience do I need

You will get the most from the tuition and enjoy the experience more if you already have a good understanding about the technical side of your photography and are confident using imaging software to convert your RAW files for the daily reviews.

How much does the course cost

My Advanced Landscape Photography Course in Arisaig costs £1,695 and this includes all the tuition and transport to the locations, six nights dinner, bed and breakfast in a comfortable room to yourself, plus unlimited email and telephone back-up after the course. The deposit is £300 and the balance is due eight weeks before the starting date.

What’s not included

Drinks from the bar.

Where is the course held

We are based at Arisaig House which is considered one of the finest small hotels in the North West Highlands of Scotland. The house is set within its own secluded grounds and the high standard of accommodation and the home-cooked meals is an additional highlight.

When does the course start and finish

The course runs over six days. We start on Saturday at 4pm and finish after breakfast on Friday.

What will I learn

The course begins with a relaxed portfolio review of your existing work and then continues with encouragement to adopt a project-based approach for the duration of the course. With artistic goals established, you will be supported throughout in further developing a personal style of picture making and as a consequence you will be fine-tuning your subject choices and gaining confidence in your composition.

All this is backed up by daily reviews and critiques of your photographs, with the feedback helping you to select and sequence a set of photographs that builds into a personal photo essay about this unique landscape. During the final session your newly created portfolio of images will be projected for the group to critique and enjoy.

Why should I choose a Garry Brannigan course

The group size is never more than five photographers, whereas other courses, workshops and tours often have many more. This smaller group size means you will receive more personal tuition out on location, plus we can visit more varied locations and have more elbow room when we get there. At the location you'll not line up to take the same photograph as the people standing next to you; instead you'll be encouraged and shown how to develop your own creative style and make photographs that are unique to you.

During our time together I work as hard as I can to create a fun and inspiring experience, while also providing photographers with a structured framework for instruction and learning. This means you will learn as much is possible during the course and leave feeling that you have developed significantly both your vision and the creative style of your photography.

Also included in the course fee is unlimited follow-up email and telephone advice, plus a mentoring service free of charge. It's a combination that has been successful for more than ten years, with a substantial number of photographers returning for further courses at different destinations, some for a fifth and sixth time as they look to develop their skills further.

I have many years’ experience of teaching landscape photography courses in upland and coastal landscapes in Britain and Ireland and have also spent considerable time exploring and researching a large portfolio of varied locations to take photographers to. In addition to some of the well-known destinations, we'll visit other hand-picked places that are off the beaten track and carefully chosen to match the specific weather conditions at the time.

How long is each day and how much time at each location

The course is not nine to five. There will be opportunities to make photographs before breakfast, then after a break we enjoy a busy day full of photography and tuition followed by a relaxing evening talking all about it. This means you can learn as much as possible and leave feeling you have developed considerably as a photographer. Because we are not a photo-tour that rushes from one location to another, you will have the time to explore and enjoy each location's potential. We'll aim to have a minimum of two hours there and often longer.

Will my photographs be reviewed each day

Yes. It’s not easy to be objective about your own images, so one of the main ways to improve as a photographer is by putting yourself back into the position of the viewer and looking at other photographers' work. The reviews are usually around the middle of the day and then we head back out again to put into practice what has been learned. Sometimes the timing changes to adapt to the changing weather.

Does Garry make his own photographs

The majority of my time out on location is spent working alongside each photographer giving tuition on a one-to-one basis. As part of that teaching process, I use my camera as a practical way of demonstrating the compositional and technical process I go through to achieve my photographs and to also illustrate a location’s potential.

What type of camera and lenses do I need

Either a digital SLR or digital compact system camera with interchangeable zoom or prime lenses: wide-angle and telephoto. A macro lens can be useful too but is not essential.

Do I need a tripod

The course embraces a wide variety of different styles and approaches to working creatively in the landscape, from traditional on a tripod through to hand-held abstraction, so it may be that a tripod suits your style or alternatively working hand-held may be more fruitful.

Do I need a laptop

Yes. You'll need to one to select your photographs and copy them on to a memory stick to be reviewed by me and the group.

Do I need Lightroom or Photoshop

Yes, so you can convert your RAW files for the review sessions.

Do I need filters

Depending on your photographic style, you may need them. If so, bring a set of neutral density graduated filters. Additional solid neutral density filters and the Big and Little Stoppers also offer significant creative options. A polariser can be useful.

What happens if the weather is bad

We still head out in the wind and rain, often with me uttering: "There's no such thing as bad light, just an inflexible photographer." Some of my favourite photographs are the ones that I had to craft because of the difficult weather conditions. However, after many years of working in Britain's upland and coastal landscapes I know there will be periods when we just cannot get out, so our time indoors will be put to good use reviewing photographs, working on composition and looking at software techniques. I also bring along a wide selection of photobooks, so we are always immersed in photography whatever the weather.

How fit do I need to be

We'll not be climbing mountains. Most of the walks to locations are short and on the flat, although some of the places we visit are away from the main paths and sometimes this means the terrain will be uneven or boggy and occasionally uphill.

How do I book

Email or phone 01748 821041 to check the place you want is still available and I will then send booking details.

How can I pay

We take payments through internet banking and cheques.

Where do we stay

What do others think of Garry’s courses

I very much like there being only five photographers. I really appreciate the individual attention you give to each person and the way in which you encourage everyone's unique eye on the landscape. I also find it immensely helpful that you are prepared to say not only when an image has worked and why but also when you feel it hasn't, and why. This feedback has been invaluable in the development of my own photographic eye. I have come away from this latest course inspired and with an increased confidence in my own image making.Barbara Sellars

I have spent my professional life either receiving or planning and delivering professional development courses; this Garry Brannigan course was probably the best. Actually, probably could be deleted from the sentence.Peter Dorman

Your tuition met my needs very well. Even though I now have a better knowledge of my camera and am concentrating more on composition and the artistic side of photography, you still manage to identify improvements to my technique and ways of getting the best out of my equipment whilst encouraging my artistic development. Your decision to continue to restrict numbers to just five photographers and give them your undivided attention for the duration of the course is priceless. It makes your courses great value for money.Margaret Harding

I have to take my hat off to you Garry as this week has again highlighted for me how much time, effort, consideration and determination you give to your courses. In particular how much time you dedicate to researching locations for all weathers, conditions, lighting and times of day. You seem to know just where to take us to make the most of whatever weather and lighting we get and that must have taken a vast amount of your time. I really appreciate this aspect that you bring to your courses. Jill Eastham